Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

698

NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV AND REMARKS ON V. V. ADORATSKY’S LETTER

Written: Written on April 10, 1922
Published:
Note to L. B. Kamenev first published in 1965 in Collected Works, Fifth (Russian) Ed., Vol. 54.
Remarks on V. V. Adoratsky’s letter first published in 1945 in Lenin Miscellany XXXV

... I should very much like to carry on and
complete the initial plan, namely, to compile
X
a collection of “Selected Letters of Marx and
Engels on Questions of Theory and Politics”. I am
now much more confident, because I have gained
greater mastery of the subject....

I should like to see you and discuss some of
Vladimir
Viktorovich
Adoratsky
my doubts. If this is possible, call me. I am
always at the Central Archives, 8 Vagankovsky,
telephones 1–78–38 or 1–75–86.

It would be well if you wrote me a paper or
something,
have
written[1]
saying that I have been authorised to
do this work, and that I should be given
assistance at the Socialist Academy in my studies there.
If I were able to devote 4 hours or so to the work
at the Socialist Academy every morning, I could
have everything ready for the printer’s within a
couple of months. I do not quite understand what
means assigning “the concern” about the letters
# Sometimes it
also pays to do
this!
to Comrade Kamenev. If it means giving me a
shove now and then to keep me from forgetting
#
about them, that is not necessary—I remember
it very well. If it means assistance, consultation
and help—that would be really fine. I should be
very glad to be able to consult with someone.
X I’m afraid I
can’t.
X
But I should like to have your final review and
sanction...

I have a general outline of the plan of this
book, and I should like to make a final
arrangement. The publication is to be in chronological
XX Quite
right!
order. Some letters, for instance, the one to An-
XX
nenkov—in full, others—only in extracts.

The material to be selected on theory:
philosophy, economic theory, the theory of history, the
revolution, the class struggle, historical remarks;
on politics: the proletariat and other classes, the
labour movement in the various countries,
assessment of political leaders, petty-bourgeois
democracy.

Am I to confine myself to theory and politics,
And so do I.
(Lenin)
or devote some space to letters shedding light on
Marx’s life, and being of interest for a biography?
I think this is not necessary.

There is to be an introductory article dealing
To make the
under-
standable,
they must
have notes.
briefly with all the questions and indicating the
}et|;ers
most important parts of the letters relating to
them.